Chocolate is among the favorite food today of not just kids and adults too. Everyone enjoys the bittersweet mix along the creamy aftertaste. Today, there are so many brands to choose from. There’s Cadbury, Hershey’s, Ferrero and the list goes on. It comes in different variants too. If you want yours crunchy, there are those that come with nuts – peanuts, almonds, pistachio, macademia. If you want the creamier type then go for white chocolate while dark chocolate is for those who want theirs to taste more bitter. Have you ever wondered where did chocolate originate? This sweet stuff we love so much did not always come in bars and in variants as we know it today.
To answer the question where did chocolate originate, it was first discovered in South America and the Mayans were the first people to grow the cacao beans where chocolate comes from. Back then, they harvested these beans and turned them into beverages that are frothy and bitter. Some historians say that they probably used this drink for ceremonial purposes. Then, the Aztecs came to use chocolate as currency for trading.
It was during the 16th century when cacao beans were brought to Europe during the time when the Spanish arrived and discovered the beans from the Aztecs. People loved cacao and it became very high in demand. In fact, the demand skyrocketed that the Spanish enslaved the Mesoamericans for the sole purpose of growing cacao beans so that they can supply the high demand and earn fro it of course.
The very first chocolate house was established during the mid 1600s in London. Because of its location, it became easily available for public consumption. Milk chocolate drink was invented by Hans Sloane who was Irish doctor. He concocted it for medical purposes – very far from why we drink it today. After 200 years, the Cadbury brothers (founder of the famous chocolate brand) bought the formula. They then continued to do different things with chocolate. They refined it and made it sweeter and even came up with a way to turn them into bars as we know it today. Due to the industrial revolution, chocolate was then produced in huge quantities.
Where did chocolate originate? It dates back from the Mayans and true enough from then until now, it is still one of the best food anyone can have.
